Luella M Becker

Luella May Becker, 79, of Bismarck, died Dec. 21 at St. Vincent?s Care Center. A memorial service will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, at the corner of Washington and Divide, Bismarck on Jan. 4 at 11 a.m. Cremation has taken place and interment will be at Sim?s Cemetary, rural Almont, at a later date. Lu was born to George and Inga Johnson Wanstrom of Almont, ND, on May 11, 1931. Following her high school graduation in Almont, she attended Dickinson State College and Valley City State College to obtain her teaching certificate. In 1954, Lu married Kenneth Becker of New Salem. Lu was a loving, busy mom of four children and an elementary teacher for over 30 years. She began her career at a small country school near her family farm, where she taught briefly, before teaching one year in Jamestown. After Ken graduated from Jamestown College, the couple spent one year in Wilton. Lu resumed her teaching in Underwood, where she taught for ten years. After a short one-year stay in Harvey, the Beckers moved to Minot and Lu taught at nearby Surrey from 1967 until her retirement in 1993. Lu learned to love sports and avidly followed her husband?s 30-year coaching career, rarely missing one of his games. The couple moved to Bismarck following her retirement, where they enjoyed an active life, traveling, attending their grandchildren?s activities, sporting events and spending winters in California until Ken?s death in April of 2007. Lu?s outgoing personality, loyalty and kind heart garnered her many treasured friends through the years. Many of her loyal friends were there to care and comfort her through months of cancer treatments and complications from Parkinson?s Disease. Lu loved her caregivers and neighbors at the Primrose and was grateful for the special loving care of the nurses, aids, staff at St. Vincent?s and hospice during her short stay. She retained her wonderful sense of humor until her final days with family and friends.Lu was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and Mary Circle. She is survived by one son: Dwight Teri Becker, LaQuinta, CA; three daughters: Julie Jim Arbach, Washburn; Nancy Doug Johnson, Omaha, NE; Patti Jeff Court, Phoenix AZ ; seven grandchildren: Brandon Allison Arbach, Kayla Alain Green, Bismarck; Tanner and Jacob Court, Phoenix; RosieAugustine Gamboa, LaQuinta CA; Geronimo Loera, Monterey CA; Sgt. Juan Duran, Colorado Springs CA ; five great grandchildren; one brother Charles Wanstrom, Mandan and two sister-in-laws; Fern Ray Albrecht, Bismarck, and Dorothy Becker New Salem, along with numerous nieces, nephews and many wonderful friends. Lu was preceded in death by her husband Ken, parents George and Inga, brothers Elmer and Wilbur Wanstrom.

Luella M Becker

May 11, 1931 - December 21, 2010